Since its establishment in Singapore in 2007, MSIWF has supported a total of 42 research projects focusing on senior citizen welfare and traffic safety with a total grant value of over SGD 400,000.

In 2017, four research applications from Singapore, out of a total of 193 received from the region, were selected and awarded grants worth SGD 38,948.

The Foundation has also made a commitment to donate 100 smart walking stick holders to the elderly in Japan. Qanemate is an award-winning smart walking stick holder that was presented with the Ageing Asia Innovation of the Year Award in 2017.

The research grants, amounting to SGD 38,948 awarded to four researchers in Singapore, focus on impactful research that could support the diagnosis of elderly men with lower urinary tract symptoms; the development of a non-intrusive fall detection monitoring system for the elderly; the adoption of appropriate child car restraints; and improving the elderly’s adherence to their treatment regimen.

In addition to the award of these grants, the Foundation has also made a commitment to donate 200 smart walking stick holders known as Qanemates to the elderly in Singapore and Japan. Designed by two young Singaporean inventors, Seng Ian Hao (aged 14) and Seng Ing Le (aged 12), Qanemate has won numerous national and international innovation awards, including the most recent 2017 Ageing Asia Innovation of the Year Award and the Singapore LTA Engineering Challenge Award.

Founded in 1975 by the Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Company in Japan, MSIWF advocates for budding and inter-disciplinary research focused on the growing ageing population and the rising concerns over traffic safety in Asia.

This year marks the 11th year of this prestigious grant since its establishment in Singapore. To date, the Foundation has supported a total of 42 projects with a value of over SGD400,000. In total, it has awarded 2,022 grants with a value of over JPY2,339 million (approximately SGD28.2 million) in Japan, Singapore and Thailand since 1975.

Following a rigorous selection process, the 2017 winners in Singapore are:

Dr Neo Shu Hui, Resident at Singapore General Hospital, for her research in determining the effectiveness of incorporating visual analogue uroflowmetry score (VAUS) in primary care physicians’ evaluation process of elderly men with lower urinary tract symptoms to achieve a cost effective, easily administered and non-invasive tool that could potentially reduce unnecessary referrals to specialists;

Dr Chong Shu-Ling, Staff Physician, Department of Emergency Medicine, atKK Women’s and Children’s Hospital, for her research on understanding parental knowledge and beliefs on the use (or the lack of use) of child car restraints, in order to create the right approach when communicating to parents on child car safety;

Professor Tan Kok Kiong at National University of Singapore, for the development of a wearable, non-intrusive, and location-based fall detection monitoring system for the elderly. The wearable device utilises an accelerometer and an additional level of sound-based detection to enhance the accuracy of fall detection;

Ms Lim Zhiying, Senior Medical Social Worker at Singapore General Hospital, for her research to better understand elderly patients’ perspectives of their illnesses and adherence (or non-adherence) to their treatment regimens, particularly those with multiple chronic illnesses and differing physical dependency who require multiple medications daily.

Mr Alan J. Wilson, Regional CEO of MSIG Holdings (Asia) Pte Ltd, commented: “We are delighted to continue serving the communities we are immersed in, by protecting the things that matter to them. Through the Foundation, we hope to offer meaningful support to advance impactful research that can address the region’s growing concerns of caring for a rapidly ageing population, and road traffic fatalities that have put at risk or claimed many lives each year.”

In 2017, a total of 193 applications were received in Japan, Singapore, and Thailand. Of these, 40 projects (including nine from Singapore and Thailand) were selected, and four from Singapore were awarded research grants worth SGD 38,948.

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About MSIG Holdings (Asia) Pte. Ltd.

For over 100 years, MSIG has been Asia's leading general insurer with an extensive network in Asia – representation in every ASEAN country, Hong Kong, as well as Australia & New Zealand. With its wealth of experience and commitment to this region, MSIG leverages on its multi-channel distribution, strong partnerships with intermediaries, and extensive geographical network to offer a wide range of insurance solutions across personal and commercial lines. 4,600 dedicated employees across the region strive to go above and beyond to contribute to the development of a vibrant society, and help secure a sustainable future by bringing security and safety to its customers.

MSIG is a part of Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Company, Limited, within the MS&AD Insurance Group. The Group is one of the top 10 non-life insurance groups in the world.

Founded in 1975 by Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Company in Japan, the Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Welfare Foundation (MSIWF) dedicates itself in supporting two specific fields: senior citizen welfare and traffic safety. These support activities include: 1. Research grants, 2. Awards for practical and academic articles, 3. Grants for dissemination and awareness raising, and 4. Grants for facilities and projects. Research grants have been the core activity since the 1990s and expanded to Southeast Asia, namely Singapore and Thailand, in 2007. Presently, research grants account for 90% of all grants. As of 2017, the Foundation has disbursed a total of 2,022 grants with a combined value of over JPY2,339 million (approximately SGD28.2 million). In Singapore, the grant was introduced in 2007 – the first by MSIWF outside of Japan. Since then, the Foundation has disbursed over SGD400,000 worth of research grants to 42 projects, with a maximum award of SGD10,000 per research grant.

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